Geneva Penninton, daughter of deceased veteran honoree Wilfred Hollis Austin Jr., while they payed respect for his duty in the US Marine Corps during the month ceremony.Photo Erica Miller 7/17/12 news_DecVet4_Wed

BALLSTON SPA -- A U.S. Marine Corps veteran's service to country was remembered Tuesday during ceremonies at Saratoga County offices.

Each month, the county pays tribute to a different service member as part of its Honoring Our Deceased Veterans program.

Wilfred Austin Jr. (1934-2006), of Northumberland, was in the Marines from 1952-55 and the Marine Corps Reserves from 1955-60. A corporal, he was in Korea and Japan and earned the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

"Beyond the service that he gave our country, he came back and served our community," Northumberland Supervisor Bill Peck said.

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Austin was active in Moreau Emergency Squad and taught EMS classes at Adirondack Community College.

His wife, Florence, and daughters, Lorrie Conlee and Geneva Pennington, were on hand for Tuesday's ceremonies in which local and state officials presented the Austin family with a number of awards and citations. This included the Saratoga County Korean War medal, the state Senate Liberty Award -- New York's highest honor -- an Assembly citation and a presidential memorial certificate from the White House.

Austin's grandson, Weslee Pennington, led everyone in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The office of U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, provided a flag flown over the U.S. capitol building in Washington, D.C. It was raised outside county offices and will stay there for 30 days until next month's program.

The flag-raising was preceded by a rifle salute and followed by a singing of "God Bless America."

Austin worked for 48 years at Whiteman Chevrolet in Glens Falls and was the dealership's parts manager for many years. He was also a big NASCAR fan, and one of his prized possessions was a classic 1957 Chevy Bellaire.

However, his love for the Marines was evident throughout the house, said Austin's daughter, Geneva.

"We were at war once again after a mere five years of fragile world peace," he said, referencing the Korean War, which began in 1950. "A full-blown military alert, first called a simple police action, then rightfully termed an undeclared war began."

"Boys like Wilfred Austin Jr. anticipated their immediate call to military service and acted accordingly," Corsale said. "A patriot is someone who feels a strong support for his country. U.S. Marine Corps volunteer Wilfred Austin was that type of person. When his country needed him, as soon as he turned 18, he left high school volunteering for war time military duty.

"He stepped forward and answered his nation's call. In every sense of the word -- patriot -- he was that."